Travis Van Winkle

Originally born in California but making his way to Hollywood via Georgia, Travis came to L.A. when he was 20 and has been working ever since.

On the film front, Travis recently shot indie thriller RITES OF PASSAGE opposite Stephen Dorff and Wes Bentley. Travis appeared in a recurring role in ABC’s new comedy HAPPY ENDINGS; he is also being seen in a new (and controversial) series of consumer giant Unilever spots shown throughout AMC’s run of MAD MEN; and also wrapped indie thriller BLOODWORK opposite Tricia Helfer.

Previous film credits include lead roles in Paramount’s FRIDAY THE 13TH (Michael Bay cast him from working with him on TRANSFORMERS), Fox comedy MEET THE SPARTANS, MGM’s ASYLUM (directed by David Ellis) and independent comedy LAST CALL with Ryan Hansen & Christopher Lloyd,. Travis was in the first TRANSFORMERS, and had a supporting role in Universal’s ACCEPTED.

On the TV side, Travis recent credits include 2 BROKE GIRLS, TWO AND A HALF MEN, RAISING HOPE, a recurring role on HAPPY ENDINGS, a multi-episode arc on 90210, and past small-screen roles include GREEK, VERONICA MARS, CAMPUS LADIES, THE OC, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE and 7TH HEAVEN.

Parvesh Cheena

A native of Naperville, Illinois, and a musical theater graduate from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, Parvesh is best known for playing Gupta on NBC’s sitcom OUTSOURCED. He is also the voice of Blades on The Hub Network’s TRANSFORMERS: RESCUE BOTS airing Saturday mornings. He also just executive produced his first film short, …OR DIE.

Parv made his film debut as ‘Samir’ in ‘Barbershop’, and reprised his role in the sequel, ‘Barbershop 2: Back in Business’ He also appeared opposite Diane Keaton in ‘Because I Said So’. TV appearances include “Brothers and Sisters,” “Til Death,” “ER,” “The West Wing,” “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “The Fresh Beat Band,” and “My Name is Earl.”

Cheena currently resides in Los Angeles, California where he regularly performs long form improvisation with his South Asian team, BROWNTOWN, and a the musical improv troupe, ALL-SKATE. He is also a proud Los Angeles Board Member of the recently merged SAG-AFTRA. Parvey is also heavily involved with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.

Next up, Parvesh will be appearing midseason in the CBS multi-cam comedy FRIEND ME by Alan Kirschenbaum and Ajay Sahgal and filming the indie film, MAN UP, with Kevjumba (aka Kevin Wu) and Justin Chon.
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Milauna Jemai

Emmy winner Charles Dutton was so impressed with Milauna Jemai that he was compelled to create a character in his film “The Obama Effect” just to be able to hire her. Hailing from “The Windy City” as a performing arts student, she has worked alongside Michael C. Hall on “Dexter”, Anthony Mackie in “Bolden”, and Damon Wayans in his sketch comedy show “The Underground”, just a few credits of her burgeoning career in both genres of comedy and drama. These experiences prepared her for her first star making, three-episode guest star arc on Russell Hornsby’s “Lincoln Heights”. Having both a relatable and chameleonesque quality is what draws audiences and filmmakers to her. Whether she plays roles in films such as “Blood Done Sign My Name” or in the gritty award-winning indie opposite Olivia Wilde in “Fix”, her ambitions are to continuously improve as an actress. Although this up and coming, sexy leading lady’s first love is acting, it’s not the only thing that’s important to her. Her philanthropic endeavors include a multitude of community service acts. Milauna Jemai aims for excellence during her journey and looks forward to her limitless future. Her most recent project was working with Spike Lee as a series regular on Doug Ellin’s pilot for HBO- “Da Brick”.

Gregory Bonsignore

PLAYWRIGHTING: A Matter of Fact (Playwright in Residence at the Library of Alexandria, Egypt), Us & Them (Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre), Three (City Theatre), The Kevin Meaney Show (NY Musical Workshop), re-writes for Disney’s Tarzan (Broadway).

TVWRIGHTING: FOX’s “Lie to Me” with Tim Roth, USA’s “In Plain Sight”, CBS’ “Three Rivers”, ABC’s logic quiz show “Million Dollar Mind Game”. Fox optioned his TV Pilot “Yearbook” and Philip Seymour Hoffman & Emily Ziff’s Academy Award Winning Cooperstown Productions developed his pilot “rare” for their HBO first-look deal. His pilot “As Seen on TV” was honored with a reading at the Rose D’Or Festival in Lucerne, Swizerland and he was invited on a Television Masterclass in Tel Aviv, Israel.

FILM: “Bros B4 Ho’s” with Jeff Marx (Avenue Q) & Jeff Witzke.

OTHER: Created both a stunt show and an ride/show for Universal Studios, wrote a number of speeches for California’s Anti-Prop 8 Gay Rights Movement and lectured at the NY Public Library. Assisted on B’WAY: 42nd Street, Tartuffe, The Look of Love, and was Creative Development Assistant to Thomas Schumacher (President of Disney Theatrical Productions) working on The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid & Beauty & The Beast. OFF: Stage Managed The Awesome 80′s Prom and produced the off-Broadway run of The Geranium on the Window Sill Just Died.

TRAINING: BBC & NYU Honors Grad. Member of the Writer’s and Dramatist’s Guild.

Jeff Biehl

Jeff Biehl (The Chief) – Film: “Wally and Andre Shoot Ibsen” directed by Jonathan Demme with Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn based on Ibsen’s THE MASTER BUILDER, TV: “Southland”, several episodes of “Law & Order CI”, “Law & Order S.V.U.” and “Law & Order.” Off-Broadway: THE MASTER BUILDER with Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn. BURNING (The New Group), AMERICAN JORNALERO (Working Theater), WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN (Red Bull), MISANTHROPE (NYTW), POLISH PLAY (Katharsis). Some other NY: Satan in HELL HOUSE (Les Freres Corbusier), CIVILIZATION (Clubbed Thumb), SOUTHERN PROMISES (PS 122), NOVEL (SPF), GREEDY (Clubbed Thumb). Regional/International: Tuzenbach in THREE SISTERS (A.R.T. and Edinburgh International Festival), THE ALCHEMIST (Shakespeare Theatre), AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (Westport), SHIPWRECKED (Long Wharf). Readings and Workshops: Lincoln Center, Playwrights Horizons, NYTW, The Public, The New Group, MCC, Soho Rep, New Dramatists, Lark, Cherry Lane, Ars Nova, Red Bull, Rattlestick, EST and more. Jeff is a New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect and a Clubbed Thumb Associate Artist. Training: Juilliard, where he received the Sant-Denis Award for Outstanding Acheivement and Leadership in Drama.

www.jeffbiehl.net

Armand Vasquez

Armand Vasquez grew up in Belleville, IL. A graduate of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, he now lives in Los Angeles, CA. Recent credits include The Matrix Theatre Company’s award-winning production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, and appearances in episodes of the television series’ GCB and After Lately. He can also be seen nationally in a Chase Liquid Card commercial. Other credits include roles on the web series’ Squad 85, Tumbleweed, The Craft Store, and Let’s Big Happy. He has also performed at the Goodman Theatre and with Healthworks Theatre Co., both in Chicago. Armand has worked on the NBC show Outsourced, at Theatre IV in Richmond, VA, and at the Muny Theatre in St. Louis, MO. He is a graduate of The Second City Training Program in Hollywood, CA and performs regularly with the improv groups Browntown and The Jon & Eddie Show.

RJ Mitte

RJ Mitte co-stars on the Emmy-winning AMC drama, Breaking Bad, as Walt White Jr.’ the son of the cancer-stricken science teacher turned drug manufacturer played by Bryan Cranston. Like his character on the show, Walt White Jr, has cerebral palsy, although Mitte’s is a milder form of the disability.

Mitte is involved with several organizations that raise awareness of equality and diversity. He is the Youth Spokesperson for the National Disability Institute’s Real Economic Impact Tour, which works to improve the financial situation of low- income persons with disabilities. He is a spokesperson for I AM PWD, the tri- union campaign (SAG, AFTRA & Actors’ Equity) which advocates for actors with disabilities. And for “Beyond Diversity — the future is now,” an organization started by his manager Addison Witt, that celebrates the diversity of all people in media. As a guest speaker at high schools, colleges, and universities around the country, Mitte openly talks about his challenges with CP and other obstacles he has overcome on his journey. In 2011 RJ became a Celebrity Youth Ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy, an organization which educates, advocates and provides support for people with a spectrum of disabilities.

One hot-button issue that RJ is often vocal about is the prevention of bullying. In his YouTube statement on closeupnow more than 151,000 views and comments have been posted addressing the remarks made by RJ Mitte. RJ is a featured guest speaker at anti-bullying town hall discussions, and he works with PACER’s National Center for Bullying Prevention. PACER is a national campaign designed to engage and educate those who see bullying – leveraging peer-to-peer support.

In addition to his work on Breaking Bad RJ Mitte’s first feature film, House of Last Things, opens in 2012. He is the executive producer for The Tara Calico Story that will debut at Cannes in 2012, and he is working with the Burbank International Film Festival as a judge and host who opens the Festival.

As a child RJ learned the value of giving back by spending time working with his grandfather’s philanthropic organization. Mitte’s grandfather partnered with Habitat groups to build houses around the world for communities devastated by natural disasters and poverty. These experiences helped set the backdrop for his future advocacy work in Hollywood.

In his spare time Mitte enjoys physical activities like hiking Runyon Canyon with his dog, Pearl, and ballroom dancing. Mitte’s ambitions include directing, producing, and finding work that will help him grow as an actor and industry personality.

Rizwan Manji

Rizwan Manji starred in the NBC sitcom OUTSOURCED. He played Rajiv, the officious assistant manager of the Mid-America Novelties call center. He may also be remembered playing Salim Ali Khan in the hit film, American Desi. Rizwan has worked with director Mike Nichols and actor Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson’s War and Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton in Morning Glory. Past TV credits include: Flash Forward, Privileged, Better Off Ted, Suite Life on Deck, Hannah Montana among others.

Jenn Winters

Jenn Winters is an LA based actor and writer. Most recently, she has focused on improvisation and sketch writing at the Groundlings, She is an alum of the Second City Training Center and iO West. She took these skills to the sea, when she performed for Second City, Boat Co. She has taught movement and improvisation with Steppenwolf at Cal State Summer Arts. When she is not performing, or playing, or causing trouble, she is sleeping. She is thrilled to be a part of Squad 85.

Sonal Shah

Anokhi Magazine featured Sonal Shah as one of the most Sexy and Successful people of 2010. She was also named one of the Top 50 Coolest Desis in the world as well one of the top 10 Fascinating South Asians of the year. A lifelong performer, Sonal started out as a competitive improvisational dancer. Sonal played Dr. Sunny Dey on the hit tv series “Scrubs” and in the web series “Scrubs: Interns”. She hails from Chicago where she performed with the Tony award Winning Goodman Theatre, Collaboraction, Running With Scissors, and Stir Friday Night. Along with some friends, she started Rasaka Theatre Company. Sonal supplemented her acting education at Improv Olympic, The Moscow Art Theatre School at Harvard University, and graduated from The Second City Conservatory. After moving to LA, Sonal was quick to start testing for pilots and booked her first series regular role in an ABC Family sitcom called “The PTA” and was selected to participate in the NBC Diversity Showcase. She’s currently a teacher’s assistant at John Rosenfeld Studios and can be seen around town doing theatre and standup. Sonal recently hosted the NASABA Gala held at the LA Live Marriott, hosted the Chicago Foundation for Women: Asian American Leadership Council Achievement Awards, spoke at a SASA event at Harvard University, and served as a panelist at the Kriti Festival (the Midwest’s South Asian Literary Festival). Check out her web presence at www.sleepingwithsonal.com